Skin cancer is among the most preventable of all cancers.
It’s simple: Avoid exposure when the sun’s rays are strongest. Wear protective clothing. Apply sunscreen.
But it’s also the most common cancer. One in 5 Americans will develop it in their lifetime.
Melissa Franklin’s mother was one of the 9,500 people diagnosed with skin cancer every day. She was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.
Against stiff odds, she beat it. But her struggle made a huge impact on Melissa, who moved back to St. Louis with her husband and 2 young sons to care for her mother.
After she recovered, the Franklins decided to fulfill a dream: to live near the shore, but not far from ski mountains.
Melissa Franklin
They knew nothing about Connecticut, but fell in love with Westport because of its beaches, location, and amenities. “It’s a hidden gem,” Melissa says. Arriving here during COVID, and being able to do so many outdoor activities, was “a lifesaver.”
She continued her career in consumer packaging and branding. But her mother’s battle with skin cancer gnawed at her.
Why — despite our knowledge of sunscreen — are so many people reluctant to wear it?
There are 2 reasons, Melissa says. Most sunscreen is “thick, nasty stuff no one wants to wear.”
Buying good quality sunscreen, on the other hand, “breaks the bank.”
With her background in product development, Melissa decided to create something that people actually want to use. It had to be clear, non-sticky — and affordable.
After many iterations, she came up with a gel. It’s non-alcohol, so it does not burn the eyes. It’s 80-minute water- and sweat-resistant, so it feels good. It’s fragrance-, oil- and paraffin-free. And non-comedogenic.
It works with all skin tones — an important consideration for Melissa.
“It makes every reason that people don’t want to use sunscreen go away,” she says.
During her career, with companies like Anheuser-Busch and Nestle, Melissa had multimillion-dollar marketing budgets.
Now, she jokes, “it’s only the Franklin family” funds.
Melissa launched Visor Skin Care last August. The timing was not great — summer was winding down — but she waited until all the bugs were worked out.
After selling online for several months, she approached retail outlets. ASF in Westport was first; they’re now on their fifth order. They’ve added Visor to their Fairfield and New Canaan stores.
Visor is also sold at Achorn Pharmacy, and Old Mill Grocery & Deli.
She’s approaching smaller chains — and hopes eventually to sell on Amazon.
She has not yet sought outside investors. That may happen in the future.
Feedback has been “tremendous,” Melissa says.
Many customers first heard of Visor when Melissa set up a stand near the brick pavilion, at this year’s Compo Beach fireworks. One woman tried it for her children and grandchildren — and bought 7 bottles.
Franklin’s sons are 11 and 8. She is proud they can watch her build a company from scratch, combining her business acumen with hard work, determination and passion.
She is gratified too, of course, that they always wear sunscreen.
(To learn more about Visor sunscreen, click here.)
(“06880” covers everything in Westport — including your skin. If you like our work, please make a tax-deductible contribution by clicking here. Thank you!)
